Like a clockwork, Davina made her way to the music store at the corner of the street where plenty of band guys stood who played and sang to entertain the locals.

With backpack on shoulders, she smiled widely at the view of flowers at the florist shop that gave away smell. After school, she often used to visit the shop and find music album of her likings.

"You never miss these," Marcel happened to be there as well who might have come for his vampire business.

"Marcel, long time no see!" Davina said and rushed to him. Marcel had been close with Davina's parents and they both seem to get along.

"I was just busy maintaining peace with our communities." He confirmed her prediction. "But my vampires aren't liking the idea of liberty I am giving to people like yours and others."

" Marcel, you're doing the right thing." She said. "Someone has to step up."

"I know but they are rebellious." He chuckled sadly and after he beat he shook of the his gloomy tone. "Anyway, how's the violin boy."

Davina blushed as Marcel mentioned Tim and said. "He's great. I picked these CDs for him. He likes it."

"And also the girl who picked it." He teased, making her blush.

..

Her canvas tumbled down as Davina came back to reality, after called by Valentine several times. She still hadn't recovered from the trance and looked around, her gaze briefly falling at the cakset lying in her small room.

"Davina?" Valentine's voice was sharper and she finally looked at him.

Picking up her canvas back, she responded. "Val!"

"What were you thinking?"

His question made her nervous for a second. Blinking away, she answered. "Ahh..nothing. Just a memory. Anyways, why are you here?"

"Just checking up."  His tone was casual but she could make out something wasn't right.

"Val, is everything, okay?"

Valentine scoffed. "I don't know. I was just wondering about something.*

"About what?" Davina asked with curiosity.

"Trust, loyalty. I just discovered one of my friends betrayed me." Like a grim, he was talking. "My man was working with Klaus behind my back and now I'm afraid to trust anyone. I can't figure out who's my friend and who's not."

That did made Davina tensed and to hide her uneasiness, she turned her face away. The events of last night came rushing back and she wasn't sure if Valentine could take another betrayal from her. He was already upset.

Hesitatingly, she continued the conversation. "You're right. I would be worried too if I were you."

"How's Tim, by the way?  Have you seen him lately?"

Davina almost loose her mind over that particular question. "I haven't left this attic for past eight months"

Valentine stayed mum for a few seconds before moving toward the window and satred out. Davina, still nervous inside decided to finish her drawing partly to avoid any further conversation.

Valentine folded his hand, remembering the photo he had seen of Klaus with Tim. Seeing the blunt hesitation on Davina's face confirmed his suspicion. His anger multiplied but he remained calmed and looked back at Davina who was busy sketching.

Pushing his hands into his pocket and brandishing a forced smile, he yold her. "I think I should leave you with your drawings."

....

Days later, Caroline learnt about a few new places, where to eat, or shop. The rest of the New Orleans was still an unfamiliar place to her and she was hoping to discover about the town more and more. 

Walking alone on the street at night while simultaneously looking at her phone, she was on her way back to home.

Shadows seem follow her that she mistook as her imagination at first but now, her heart was striking with strange feeling.

She stopped to take a quick inspection and resumed walking when found nothing. Caroline barely made to the next road when her senses told her to look back once. Again, she found nothing. 

She stopped momentarily to find a taxi as the road was unsually quiet and empty or perhaps she forgot the way back to home.

A taxi went by but didn't stop on being called. Few vehicles went to but she stayed put in hope of catching a taxi. Her heart was almost blown at the startling voice that came behind her. Far away was a cat wandering around, but she was sure it wasn't just the animal. Someone sure was follwing.

Swallowing hard, she shouted. "Who's there?"

The noises continued at a slow pace, making Caroline frantic as she glanced around for the stalker.
"Whoever is there, I'm telling you, it's not funny." She yelled again with her might but all she could think of teh night when she was chased by a vampire. Her heart sank.

She stepped back when there was no response and Caroline gave up her idea to wait for taxi and ran instead to find a place with crowd for safety.

The shadow was indeed present when she looked back, increasing her heartbeat. Striding, then running as fast as she could, Carline found herself colliding into someone.

Scared to death, she freaked out when the person held her by the arms.

"Klaus." She whispered his name upon seeing him instead of a serial killer vampire. On instinct she rushed closer and hugged him tightly as relief spreaded inside her.

Klaus, on the other hand, was taken aback at her action. He could not only see she was shaking in fear but also noticed how her face rested in relief on seeing him as if their last conversation had never happened.

Gently rubbing her hair, he wondered.  "What's wrong, love?"

Caroline parted herself with him and answered. " I think I was being followed."

Klaus looked at the direction Caroline came from."Let me check."

He couldn't stepped away because Caroline held his hand tighlty and even moved him further closer to her.

"Klaus, don't leave me alone. Please!"

Staring at eachother, they stayed quietly, reading each other's face. Caroline had stopped shaking but she was still tensed, and it didn't suit her pretty face.

Breaking away the eyelock, they realised they were standing too close to each other. Awkwardly, they seperated and walked over to a bench nearby.

"Why were you out in the street this late?" He enquired.

"I was roaming around the town for job hunting you know." She told him. "I really lost track of time and ended up running back this late."

"And why do you need a job?"

"That how life work I suppose. I mean I'm not aware about my qualifications so by the time I figure out my future endeavors, I'm planning on doing job to occupy time." 

He chuckled a bit and asked again.
"So, did you get any?"

"Nope. " Frustration was evident in her voice. "As I said I'm a girl with no past or qualifications." 

"I can help you with that." He had the smile when he wanted to be cocky on purpose.

"No, No, No. I don't need any vampire trick. " she protested. "By the way, what were you doing here? Don't tell me that you were following me as well?"

Klaus stifled a short laugh and  Caroline looked at him warily.
He said," Actually I was busy admiring my town for hours when  I  caught you running here."

"You love this town. Isn't it?" Caroline observed.

"Very much." He had proud face. "Elijah and I created it 300 years ago. It took almost a century to make this barren land into A town. It is my home."

"Then why did you leave it?" 

Klaus let out a breath before responding. "I left it because of Mikeal, my father. After discovering my mother's secret betrayal, he started hunting me. He wanted to end me just because I wasn't his blood. I was born from a werewolf bloodline, the creature he hated the most. almost succeeded in his revenge but I killed him in the last minute."

Caroline brows rose up. "You killed your father?"

Klaus blinked his eyes at her. "Destruction was another name of my father. A century ago when I made this town, he found us. Me, Elijah and rebekah. We escaped and left while our father burnt this city to the ground and whatever faith or humanity inside me had died along with it." 

Hearing the glum tone of him, Caroline's features softened. In her heart, she believed there was goodness somehwhere lying inside him or else neither had he tried to protect his child nor paid heed at her request of Elijah's release.

Suddenly, Klaus shot up, holding out his hand at her. "Enough of ancient history. Let me get you home".

Caroline returned him a small smile and clasped her fingers with him. They walked ahead as Caroline instructed him the way to her apartment. As soon as they disappeared to next road, Valentine appeared from the dark alley he was hiding in.

......

New Orleans witches surrounded the dead Agnes in the cemetary with sophie and Sabine in the front, performing the last ritual for cremation.

"Our last elder died. " Said one of the witches. "Now how are we gonna complete the harvest ritual?"

"And what about the vision? That Mikealson child is gonna end us."  Said the other.

"We have to save our self other," said the first one.

Sophie put the sage aside which sabine picked to continue the ritual and said. "Elijah broke his promise by killing Agnes. Now, it's time to break ours."

...

Caroline opened the door of her apartment she had recieved from Elijah. The place was spacious, equipped with furniture and appliance before hand which Caroline didn't expect.

It had a decent decor which was pleasant to look at.

She entered inside, and placed the keys on the tray and noticed Klaus still standing outside.

"Why are you standing there, come in." Caroline said, taking off her jacket.

He entered in and when Caroline was finished hanging her jacket on the hook, he spun her around to face him. "Caroline, you need to know one thing. Vampires can't get in unless invited. You own this house, Elijah told me. That means no one other than yourself can invite a vampire. So, I want you to be careful about who you are inviting in."

"Sure."Caroline nodded as she tucked her hair behind her ears. At that moment, Klaus's eyes fell on her vervain bracelet.

"That bracelet?" He pointed at it.

"It's a vervain bracelet. Davina gave me."  Caroline replied while she poured water in a glass

Klaus was amused. "Davina?"

Caroline emptied the glass a little and responded. "I met her few days ago to apologize."

.....

Parking his car in the building, Valentine came out, holding his cell phone to his ear. The speaker on the other side passed some information to him.

Sighing, he replied before hanging up. "I will definitely think about your deal."

Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he made his way to the elevator and half a minute later, he was on his desired destination.
Calmly, he knocked on the door, waiting for the person to show up.

Inside, Caroline who lying in her bed, trying to sleep wondered who could be at this hour. By the time there was a second knock, she opened the door, and found an unfamiliar person.

"Sorry, who are you?"  She asked.

Valentine gave her a perplexed look before he said. "Oh, I' sorry to bother you. I thought one of my friends lived in this one."

"It's absolutely, okay!"

Valentine noticed her bracelet as well. "Nice bracelet."

Caroline passed him a awkward smile. "Thank you. Do you need some help in finding your friend?"

He denied with a smile. "Its alright. I'll handle it." Saying so, he walked away, leaving Caroline at the doorway. After he reached back at the elevator, he fished out his phone and redialed on the last call.

On second ring, Sophie Deveraux picked up and he told her. "I thought about your deal way faster than I had intended."

"So what do you say?"

" Consider me in."

___________________
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Updated on: 15 November 2018
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